Rodman's teen librarian finds inspiration amidst patrons

John Barrymore once said, "A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams."

Rodman Public Library's D.J. Digianantonio has been out of high school for more than 13 years; however, that doesn't impact his ability to relate to teenagers.

D.J., which stands for Daniel James, graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in library science.

Although he had interviewed initially at North Canton for a library position, when Library Director Pat Stone decided to add a teen librarian several years ago, he came highly recommended.

He was Rodman's first teen librarian, although he also works in the reference department. Penny Neubauer, his direct supervisor, pushed for the hire to fill the niche between children and adult services.

Having been out of his teen years since he earned his a diploma from Perry High School, Digianantonio admits bridging the generation gap isn't as much of a challenge as the implementation. "The crafts are a matter of trial and error, especially since I still am not the least bit artistic," he explained.

However, teens appear to relate to DJ's vulnerability on that front. In fact, observers note that they seem to appreciate that he acknowledges to be less than perfect, especially as they stumble through projects.

And, there are some areas in which they share common interests, including video gaming and sports. Digianantonio isn't too long in the tooth to enjoy a good board game with friends as well as young adult books, as he is working through the Last Apprentice series.

As Rodman prepares for the unveiling of the teen section, he hopes to see them get more involved in the process -- especially if the Marlington schools are of the library district. "I help out with Navigators regularly, and Wednesdays go to the Alliance Middle School for the Anime club and enjoy collaborating there," Digianantonio continued.

Digianantonio and his wife, Stacy, moved to Alliance two years ago after buying a house. Between working two jobs, including one day a week at Marc's, he also enjoys doing projects at home. "I finished my basement myself and (colleague) Jim Bixler helps to teach me (how to do things). I also enjoy woodworking, bowling and golfing (depending on the weather)," he said, again adding that "I am not very good at it."

He looks forward to the day when he may have a son or daughter of his own. Until then, Digianantonio is happy enough spending time with his teen patrons. "I get to know these kids as they come in regularly, and I hope that they find the new space somewhere they can hang out and be themselves."